⏳ --

We could hear it from miles away. It was loud and ominous, deadly and malevolent. The drums of war. A symphony of incoming death.

We stood north of Dead Valley, the battleground of the ages; here and now. We were seven thousand strong; seven thousand of us who never asked for this to happen, who wanted nothing more to live peacefully. But here we were: fighting against our own people alongside mortal heroes of their own times. And this was a battle we had to win.

In the distance was Eon's army, an army thousands stronger than us of Walkers who were forced against their will to fight for a tyrant, for a cause that was completely against our creed, against our way of living. Eon's punishment was death for everything he had done. Imprisonment was unsuccessful last time. Death was the answer and the only answer.

"So this is it," Stark uttered.

"Looks like it," the Star-Lord said. "Wish we had some awesome battle music to go with this."

"Oh, if only."

Gilliam walked to stand in front of our army in full battle armour like most of us. He was a shadow of the man we'd rescued from the Killing Caves. No, this man was the mighty general of the Lord of Time himself appointed to lead his army.

No one spoke. The only sounds in the air was the drums of war ahead, Eon's army marching closer to the battlefield like a black smoke drifting towards us. I could feel the tension among us. I could smell the fear wafting off of those who'd never tasted battle, those who'd never fought in a war. Looking around, I saw expressions of dread and panic. People were going to die. This was going to be a bloodbath, but it was one that had to happen for the Chronos to be free.

"Through time we walk, a road so old." I turned to the harmonic voice. Lily stood nearby, chanting a song that hadn't been sung for a time unfathomably long. "Look to the sky, the dawn will come."

I watched as the chanting grew, the Walkers' singing growing in strength as they prepared themselves for war. It was not long before I joined in, a song that touched us all in different ways. We were singing a dying song.

"Lives ancient hold, our truths untold.

"Raise your hands, the dawn will come."

My heart transitioned into a gallop as I saw the enemy forces march closer and closer. The tingle on my skin rushed around my body, my power coursing through my veins. I watched as the enemy bellowed their battle cries, raising their powered fists into the air before they charged. I was ready for them. I was ready to fight to the end, to save the Chronos and my people. The enemy would fall today. I would make sure of that.

"Strong hearts of gold, destines in stone." I walked forth, facing the army ahead with no fear. I felt Jax by my side, and Patroclus on my other. Gilliam raised his fist high, roaring his own battle cry. "Steel your heart, the dawn will come." Our army behind us began to march, the enemy ahead of us storming forth. But we stood unafraid, willing to give our lives for the Chronos.

"Though shadows fall, and hope has fled." The Avengers and the Guardians took arms, walking with us, preparing to fight for us. "Stand your ground, the dawn will come." Our singing rose loud, loud enough for all to hear. "The night is long, and the path is dark.

"Look to the sky, the dawn will come."

I powered up. As did those around me. My power coursed through me, a green energy-filled aura engulfing me. A rainbow of energy and colours surged through our army as Walkers' auras shined brightly, beginning to close the gap between our army and the enemy's. I broke into a run, determination raging through me as strongly as my power.

"The Path of Time, the end is nigh."

"Look to the sky, for one day soon..."

"The dawn will come."

The armies collided, power and energy exploding into the sky. I formed a green shield in front of me before ploughing into the front line. Jax split away from me, blasting any who stood in his path. An enemy Walker in front of me released an energy ball my way, and I rolled away to avoid it, the ball hitting a different Walker. I rushed up to the enemy Walker and kicked out. He blocked it and swung an arm, which I ducked just in time. A fist full of power, I slammed it into his chest, sending green energy exploding out and his body to fly backwards.

Stark and Star-Lord flew around the battleground, picking off those who posed a threat to struggling allies. The walking tree swung his limbs, fatally hitting any who stood close, the racoon standing on its shoulder and shooting any dressed in black. The green woman and red man fought valiantly beside us.

I looked to the north, to Andromeda. Please save us soon, Andi. We need you to.

❈Author's Note: Hey, there! This one was a bit of a lazy filler chapter. I know that it wasn't well written like my other chapters. Sorry about that. It was originally part of the previous chapter, but that would make it about 4,000 words, which is a bit too long. This is probably one of my weaker chapters, but I hoped you enjoyed it all the same! :) 

If you liked this chapter, please consider giving it a quick vote! Thanks for reading!